Research news

Learn more about the latest discoveries and innovations from the U of T Engineering community. Our researchers are developing new ways of capturing and storing clean energy, medical devices that can save and extend lives, smarter ways to design and build cities and much more.

Pavani Cherukupally (MIE PhD candidate) has designed a system that uses ordinary sponges to remove droplets of oil or other contaminants dispersed in water. Her technology could help remediate of oil sands tailings ponds, a major environmental challenge for Canada. (Photo: Kevin Soobrian)

Sponging up oil from tailings ponds

Pavani Cherukupally is designing a sponge-based system to clean up contaminated wastewater, with potential to help clean spills in Alberta’s oil sands and elsewhere

Elizabeth Edwards is the director of BioZone, a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry and a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Her research leverages genomics, microbiology and engineering to clean up contaminated industrial sites around the world. (Credit: Matthew Volpe)

The invisible clean-up crew: Engineering microbial cultures to destroy pollutants

Professor Elizabeth Edwards is leveraging genomics, microbiology and engineering to clean up contaminated industrial sites around the world

The new perovskite solar cells have achieved an efficiency of 20.1 per cent and can be manufactured at low temperatures, which reduces the cost and expands the number of possible applications. (Photo: Kevin Soobrian)

Printable solar cells just got a little closer

New research removes a key barrier to large-scale manufacture of low-cost, printable perovskite solar cells

Professor Fae Azhari (MIE, CivE) holds a sample of the self-sensing concrete she designed. Her work helps monitor the structural health of crucial infrastructure such as bridges, roads and hydroelectric dams. (Credit: Roberta Baker).

Concrete check-up: Fae Azhari develops diagnostics for critical infrastructure

U of T Engineering professor develops novel approaches to monitoring the health of large structures, from bridges to hydroelectric dams

Professor Levente Diosady (centre) and his team developed a way to fortify salt with both iron and iodine. The product is now being distributed to more than 24 million people in India’s Uttar Pradesh state. (Photo: Mark Balson)

Double-fortified salt to improve nutrition for 24 million in Uttar Pradesh

U of T Engineering invention provides a simple, effective way to help people whose diets are lacking in iron

Measurements taken by U of T Engineering researchers show that levels of certain airborne particles can be up to nine times higher in train cars pulled by diesel locomotives than on busy city streets. (Photo: Kevin Hiscott, via <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/portway-ave/110344606/" target="_blank">Flickr</a>)

Diesel trains may expose passengers to exhaust

Levels of certain airborne pollutants are up to nine times higher in train cars directly behind diesel locomotives than on busy city streets.

Professor Erin Bobicki researches new methods for extracting valuable minerals that use less energy and water than current methods. Her innovations could also enable the extraction of useful metals from materials previously discarded as waste. (Credit: Kevin Soobrian)

Can microwaves make mining more sustainable?

Professor Erin Bobicki (MSE, ChemE) is developing more sustainable ways of extracting valuable minerals from ore, including material previously discarded as waste.

Heart-lead-image

TBEP and MbD: Engineered smart scaffolds could help repair damaged hearts and muscles

Two multidisciplinary partnerships led by U of T Engineering researchers are developing implantable biomaterials that accelerate injury recovery, from car accidents to heart attacks.

Professor Marianne Touchie (CivE, MIE) is working with Toronto Community Housing and The Atmospheric Fund to better understand how changes to energy use affect indoor environmental quality in multi-unit residential buildings. Toronto Public Health is collaborating to use their data to inform policy. (Photo: Kevin Soobrian)

Heat, housing and health: Marianne Touchie and the complexity of multi-unit residential buildings

Professor Marianne Touchie is working with Toronto Community Housing and The Atmospheric Fund to better understand how changes to energy use affect indoor environmental quality in multi-unit residential buildings